Hip

Hip pain can significantly affect your mobility, daily activities, and quality of life. Whether your pain is caused by arthritis, injury, or overuse, our board-certified orthopedic specialists provide expert hip care with non-surgical and surgical treatment options tailored to your needs. At Aligned Orthopedic Partners, we are committed to helping patients in Virginia find lasting relief from hip pain using the latest advancements in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted hip surgery.

Common Causes of Hip Pain

Hip pain can develop from injuries, degenerative conditions, and mechanical issues. Our orthopedic team in McLean, Arlington, and Tysons specializes in diagnosing and treating the following:

Hip Injuries

  • Hip Labral Tears – Damage to the cartilage surrounding the hip socket.
  • Hip Fractures – Common in older adults due to falls or osteoporosis.
  • Hip Dislocations – When the femoral head is forced out of the hip socket.
  • Hip Strains & Sprains – Overuse injuries affecting hip ligaments and muscles.

Hip Arthritis & Degenerative Conditions

  • Osteoarthritis – The most common type of arthritis, causing cartilage breakdown.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis – An autoimmune disease that leads to joint inflammation.
  • Post-Traumatic Arthritis – Arthritis caused by past injuries.
  • Avascular Necrosis – Bone tissue death due to lack of blood supply.

Overuse & Mechanical Issues of the Hip

  • Hip Bursitis – Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the hip joint.
  • Snapping Hip Syndrome – A popping sensation caused by tight muscles or tendons.
  • Hip Impingement (FAI – Femoroacetabular Impingement) – Abnormal contact between the hip bones.
  • Sciatica & Nerve Pain – Radiating pain from nerve compression in the lower back.

If you are experiencing chronic hip pain in McLean, Arlington, or Tysons, scheduling an evaluation with a hip specialist can help determine the best treatment approach for you.

Non-Surgical Hip Pain Treatment Options

Hip pain, depending on cause and severity can be effectively managed without surgery. At Aligned Orthopedic Partners, we offer advanced non-surgical treatments to help patients in McLean, Arlington, and Tysons regain mobility and reduce pain.

Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation

  • Targeted strengthening exercises to support hip joint stability.
  • Flexibility training to improve range of motion and reduce stiffness.
  • Gait & posture correction to relieve pressure on the hip joint.

Medication & Injections

  • Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce swelling and pain.
  • Corticosteroid Injections for targeted relief of inflammation.
  • Hyaluronic Acid Injections to improve joint lubrication.
  • Therapies designed to encourage tissues healing and growth.

Assistive Devices & Lifestyle Adjustments

  • Hip braces & orthotics for extra support.
  • Weight management programs to reduce stress on the hip joint.
  • Activity modification to prevent further joint damage.

If non-surgical treatments do not provide relief, our hip specialists may recommend surgical options for long-term pain relief.

Surgical Treatment Options for Hip Pain

When hip pain persists despite conservative treatments, surgery may be necessary to restore function and relieve discomfort. Our hip surgeons in McLean, Arlington, and Tysons offer:

Hip Arthroscopy (Minimally Invasive Surgery)

  • Labral Repair – Fixes cartilage tears around the hip socket.
  • Hip Impingement Surgery (FAI Correction) – Removes bone overgrowth to improve movement.
  • Cartilage Restoration – Regenerative procedures to treat early cartilage damage.

Hip Resurfacing

  • Alternative to total hip replacement for younger, active patients.
  • Preserves more bone while replacing the damaged hip surface.

Total Hip Replacement (Hip Arthroplasty)

  • Replaces the entire hip joint with an artificial implant.
  • Best for severe arthritis or advanced joint deterioration.
  • Minimally invasive approach allows for faster recovery & less pain.

Robotic-Assisted Hip Replacement

  • Precision technology for optimal implant positioning.
  • Less tissue damage & faster recovery compared to traditional surgery.

Our McLean, Arlington, and Tysons orthopedic hip surgeons will recommend the best surgical option based on your specific condition and lifestyle goals.

When to See a Hip Specialist

Seek medical attention if you experience:

  • Persistent hip pain lasting more than a few weeks.
  • Swelling, stiffness, or reduced mobility in the hip joint.
  • Difficulty walking or performing daily activities due to hip discomfort.
  • Clicking, popping, or locking sensations in the hip joint.
  • Pain that interferes with work, sports, or exercise.

Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent further joint damage and improve your long-term outcomes.

Hip Specialists Serving Tysons, Virginia & the Greater DMV Region

Our orthopedic hip specialists treat patients throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

At Aligned Orthopedic Partners, our board-certified hip surgeons specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide range of hip conditions, from mild discomfort to severe joint degeneration. We use the latest minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgical techniques, enabling faster recovery, less pain, and improved long-term outcomes. Whether you need non-surgical treatments or are considering hip replacement surgery, our team develops personalized treatment plans tailored to your age, activity level, and specific condition to ensure the best possible results.

With convenient locations in Arlington, Tysons, Northern Virginia, Maryland and D.C. we make it easy for patients to access expert orthopedic care close to home. At Aligned Orthopedic Partners, we are committed to helping you move pain-free and regain your mobility with comprehensive hip care solutions.

Call 833-992-5446 today or schedule an appointment online at one of our Virginia locations!

Hip Conditions & Treatments:

Understanding Hip Arthritis

Hip arthritis involves the deterioration of the cartilage in your hip joint. Cartilage is the smooth, cushioning surface that allows your hip bones to move easily.  When this cartilage wears down, bones can rub together, causing pain, stiffness, and limited mobility.

Types of Hip Arthritis

  • Osteoarthritis: The most common type, caused by wear-and-tear over time. It often affects older adults.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis: An autoimmune disease where the body attacks the joint lining. This can happen at any age.
  • Post-traumatic Arthritis: Can develop after a hip injury, like a fracture.

Symptoms of Hip Arthritis

  • Pain: Usually felt in the groin, but can also be felt in the thigh, buttock, or knee. Pain typically worsens with activity.
  • Stiffness: Especially after rest or in the morning, making it difficult to get going.
  • Reduced Range of Motion: Difficulty with everyday tasks like putting on socks, bending down, or getting in and out of a car.
  • Grinding or Popping: You might hear or feel these sensations in your hip joint.

How is Hip Arthritis Diagnosed?

Your doctor will:

  • Ask about your symptoms and medical history.
  • Perform a physical exam to assess your hip’s range of motion and any signs of pain.
  • Order imaging tests: X-rays are typically the first step, but MRI might be needed for a more detailed view of the joint.
  • Treatment: From Conservative to Surgical

Treatment usually starts with:

  • Lifestyle Changes: Activity modification, weight loss (if needed), and low-impact exercise.
  • Physical Therapy: Specific exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting your hip, reducing stress on the joint.
  • Medication: Over-the-counter or prescription painkillers and anti-inflammatories.
  • Injections: Cortisone injections may provide temporary pain relief. Other injections like PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) may help promote healing.

When Surgery Might Be Necessary

Hip Replacement: If other treatments haven’t helped and your pain is significantly limiting your life, a hip replacement may be recommended. This involves replacing the damaged joint with artificial parts.

Important to Remember:

  • Early diagnosis helps: Treatment can slow the progression of arthritis.
  • There are many treatment options: Talk to your doctor about the best plan for your specific situation.
  • Don’t ignore pain: Seek medical care to prevent the condition from worsening.

 

Understanding Hamstring Tendonitis

Your hamstrings are the powerful muscles at the back of your thighs. They help you bend your knee, extend your hip, and are crucial for activities like running, jumping, and other sports.  Hamstring tendonitis occurs when the tendons that connect these muscles to the bone become inflamed and irritated.

What Causes Hamstring Tendonitis?

  • Overuse: The most common culprit. Repetitive movements or sudden increases in activity can overload the tendons.
  • Muscle Imbalance: Weak hip muscles or tight quadriceps (front of the thigh) can put more stress on your hamstrings.
  • Poor Technique: Improper form when running or exercising can contribute to the problem.

Symptoms: What to Look Out For

  • Pain in the back of the thigh or around the knee, especially when bending or straightening the leg.
  • Tenderness to the touch along the hamstring.
  • Stiffness, especially in the morning or after inactivity.
  • Worsening pain during activities like running, stairs, or getting up from a seated position.

Treatment: The Path to Relief

  • Treatment usually starts with conservative measures:
  • RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. This helps reduce pain and swelling.
  • Medication: Over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers and anti-inflammatories.
  • Physical Therapy: Specific exercises and stretches to strengthen the hamstrings, improve flexibility, and correct any muscle imbalances.

If traditional therapies aren’t enough, your doctor might suggest:

Injections:

  • Cortisone injections can provide temporary pain relief.
  • PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections might help promote long-term healing.
  • Surgery: Very rarely needed, and only in severe, long-term cases.

Important:

  • Don’t push through the pain! Rest is important in the early stages of healing.
  • Gradual return to activity under guidance is crucial to prevent re-injury.
  • Address any underlying imbalances or technique issues to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Talk to Your Doctor

If you suspect hamstring tendonitis, don’t ignore it. Proper diagnosis and treatment can help you recover faster and get back to the activities you enjoy.

Understanding Hip Pain: Greater Trochanteric Bursitis and Gluteus Tendinopathy

Greater trochanteric bursitis and gluteus tendinopathy are common causes of pain on the outside of your hip. It can make it difficult to walk, climb stairs, or even sleep comfortably on your side. Here’s what you need to know:

  • The Greater Trochanter: This is the bony bump on the outside of your upper thigh bone (femur).
  • Bursae: These small, fluid-filled sacs cushion the points where tendons pass over bones, reducing friction.
  • Gluteal Tendons: These attach your hip muscles (the gluteus medius and minimus) to the greater trochanter.

What’s the Difference?

  • Greater Trochanteric Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa located over the greater trochanter.
  • Gluteus Tendinopathy: Wear-and-tear, degeneration, or small tears in the gluteal tendons.
  • Often, these conditions occur together, making the term “greater trochanteric pain syndrome” more accurate.

What Causes This Pain?

  • Overuse: Repetitive movements like running, walking long distances, or climbing stairs.
  • Muscle Weakness: Weak gluteal muscles can put more stress on the tendons and bursa.
  • Other Factors: Age, previous hip injury, arthritis, or differences in leg length can increase risk.

Symptoms: What to Expect

  • Pain on the outer hip: May worsen with lying on that side, prolonged walking, or climbing stairs.
  • Tenderness: When pressing on the outside of your hip.
  • Stiffness or Reduced Range of Motion: Might experience difficulty with certain movements.

Treatment: Finding Relief

Treatment usually progresses through these steps:

  • Rest and Modify Activities: Avoid aggravating activities and let the inflammation subside.
  • Ice and Medication: To help manage pain and swelling.
  • Physical Therapy: Key for strengthening the gluteal muscles, improving hip mechanics, and reducing stress on the area.

Injections:

  • Cortisone injections can offer temporary pain relief.
  • Orthobiologic injections (like PRP) may help stimulate the healing process.
  • Rarely, surgery might be considered if other treatments fail

Important to Remember:

  • Early Treatment is Key: This can help prevent the condition from worsening.
  • Patience and Persistence: Recovery can take time, and commitment to physical therapy is often needed for a full return to activity.

 

Understanding Hip Labral Tears

A hip labral tear is a condition where the cartilage (labrum) that lines the socket of the hip joint gets torn or damaged. The hip labrum acts like a cushion or seal to stabilize the joint and provide support to the hip bones. When it tears, it can cause pain, stiffness, and sometimes a clicking or catching sensation in the hip.

Hip Labral Tears Can Result From:

  • Injury
  • Repetitive movements
  • Structural abnormalities in the hip joint
  • Degeneration over time

How Are Hip Labral Tears Diagnosed?

In order to determine if you have a hip labral tear, the doctor will ask about your hip pain and then check how well you can move your hip and feel sensation in it. They may also use imaging tests like an MRI to look inside your hip and see if there is any damage to the cartilage.

Conservative treatment for hip labral tears involves:

  • Rest: Avoid activities that worsen symptoms and modify movements to reduce stress on the hip joint
  • Physical Therapy: Specific exercises can help strengthen muscles around the hip joint, improve flexibility, and correct movement patterns to ease muscle strain
  • Pain management with medications
  • Lifestyle Adjustments: Weight management and proper footwear can reduce stress on the hip joint and alleviate symptoms
  • Hip Joint Injections: Corticosteroid injections into the hip joint can provide temporary relief of pain and inflammation
  • Heat or ice therapy

Understanding Hip Arthroscopy:

Hip arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that offers a minimally invasive approach to treating hip arthritis. Through small incisions, the surgeon inserts an arthroscope to visualize and assess the condition of the joint. The camera attached to the arthroscope projects images onto a monitor, allowing the surgeon to examine the internal structures for any signs of injury or damage.

If necessary, the surgeon can also address joint issues using the arthroscope during the same operation. This technique provides an effective means of diagnosis and treatment for hip arthritis.

Understanding Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

This condition refers to the presence of excess bone growth on the hip joint bones, resulting in an irregular shape. When these bones interact during movement, they create friction and rubbing. This repetitive contact can lead to joint damage over time, causing pain and restricting one’s ability to engage in certain activities.

How is Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) Diagnosed?

In order to diagnose Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI), the doctor will ask about the pain in your hip and may move your hip in different ways to see if it causes any discomfort. They may also take pictures of your hip using X-rays, MRI, or CT scans to find any bone problems or cartilage damage.

Treatment for Femoroacetabular Impingement starts with:

  • Medications for inflammation: Prescription-strength nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, may be recommended to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation.
  • Modifying activities: Your healthcare provider may initially suggest making changes to your daily routine and avoiding activities that trigger symptoms.
  • Physical therapy: Targeted exercises can enhance the range of motion in your hip and strengthen the muscles that support the joint. This can help alleviate stress on the injured labrum or cartilage

When Surgery Might Be Necessary:

If tests reveal that your joint has been damaged by FAI and your pain persists despite non-surgical treatments, surgery may be recommended. Many cases of FAI can be effectively treated through:

Arthroscopic Surgery:

  • This involves making small incisions and using thin instruments and a small camera, to visualize the inside of the hip joint
  • During the procedure, the doctor can repair or remove any damage to the labrum and articular cartilage

Additionally, the FAI can be addressed by trimming the bony rim of the acetabulum and reducing the size of the bump on the femoral head
In more severe cases, an open operation with a larger incision may be necessary to achieve these goals

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